Yi not star-struck over ballot

Rookie forward Yi Jianlian was left off the NBA's all-star ballot, an oversight that might not suit the league's burgeoning fan base in China.

But Yi professed not to be bothered by the slight, even though Yao Ming was on the ballot as a rookie and was elected to the 2003 All-Star Game. Yao was the No. 1 overall selection by Houston in the 2002 draft, while Yi was taken sixth overall by the Bucks this year.

"For me, the most important thing is the games (with the Bucks)," Yi said after practice today, as the team prepared for Saturday night's home game against Atlanta. "Not the All-Star Game. The rookie year is for me to enjoy, and maybe I can be in the All-Star Game next year or later.

"I'll still have a chance. For me, it's not very important right now."

The only rookies listed on the ballot were Kevin Durant of the Seattle SuperSonics and Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets, both in the Western Conference. The 120 names on the ballot (60 in each conference) were selected by a media panel.

"I think we all know what would have happened had he been on the ballot, based on population numbers," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "I don't think it matters to Yi if he's an all-star. Nobody knew at the time he would be playing.

"With all the trials and tribulations over the summer, we didn't know he was going to be in a Bucks uniform."

There is a place for a write-in vote on the online ballot, so it will be interesting to see if Yi still gets a boost from Chinese fans. And it's possible that Bucks guard Michael Redd, a member of Team USA but absent from the All-Star Game since 2004, could get some votes from basketball fans in Asia.

The four Bucks on the ballot are Redd, center Andrew Bogut, guard Mo Williams and forward Charlie Villanueva.

By the way, how did Yao do in his initial all-star appearance? He had two points and two rebounds in 17 minutes in the game played in Atlanta.

Yao has appeared in four all-star games, with his best showing coming in 2004 when he scored 16 points.